Bow forming machine and method



1966 .1. E. KERRIGAN ETAL 3,236,425

BOW FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 26, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 22, 1966 J. E. KERRIGAN ETAL 3,236,426

BOW FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD 1966 J. E. KERRIGAN ETAL 3,235,426

BOW FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 1966 J. E. KERRIGAN ETAL 3,236,425

BOW FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 26, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1965 .1. E. KERRIGAN ETAL 3,236,426

BOW FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 26, 1963 Feb. 22, 1966 J. E. KERRIGAN ETAL 3,235,426

BOW FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed April 26, 1965 e Sheets-Sheet e fidm yam/gmjyarz United States Patent Ofitice 3,236,426 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 3,236,426 BOW FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD James E. Kerrigan, Arlington Heights, and Raimonds Grikis, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Chicago Printed String Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 275,921 26 Claims. (Cl. 223-46) This invention relates to machines and methods for forming decorative articles from ribbon or like materials and more particularly to the forming of pompon type decorative bows.

A pompon or ball is one rather basic and widely accepted decorative form, and considerable attention and effort has heretofore been directed toward forming ribbon into satisfactory bows or decorative articles of this type, note for instance U.S. Patents No. 2,872,086 to R. F. Duncan, No. 2,841,905 to G. Wanchek, and Reissue No. 23,835 to T. L. McMahon. While many of the resulting articles have been satisfactory from a standpoint of appearance, the various methods, tools and mechanisms heretofore proposed for forming such articles have usually entailed a considerable amount of hand labor requiring skill and dexterity and have resulted in undesirable limitations on productivity with attendant relatively high production costs. A desirable improvement in this art would be to provide machines and methods whereby ribbon could be more quickly and efficiently fabricated into pompon type bows than in the past. One significant step toward this end would be to provide machines and methods which would eliminate repetitive and/or tedious hand-operations in the production of this type of article.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for mechanically forming pompon type ribbon bows.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved method for forming pompon type ribbon bows.

It is another object of this invention to provide im proved machines for forming decorative articles from ribbon.

It is another object of this invention to provide improved means for forming ribbon into loops and securing a plurality of such loops together to form a decorative article.

In carrying out this invention in one illustrative form, ribbon is provided with spaced, narrow, neck portions and accumulated in a plurality of loops by engaging successive neck portions in an encompassing retainer. To accomplish this end, a support is provided for supporting the ribbon adjacent each successive neck portion, the support rotates each neck portion about 90, each neck portion being rotated in a direction opposite to the preceding neck portion, and the support and retainer cooperate to successively engage each supported neck portion in the retainer, thereby to form the ribbon into loops and to accumulate the loops on the retainer.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should now be had to the example illustrated in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine employing the teachings of this invention, and with a supply of ribbon in place for operation;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the machine of FIG. 1, in operation;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged perspective views of portions of the gripper unit and the gatherer mechanism of the machine in FIG. 1, and illustrating various steps in the formation of loops of ribbon thereby;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of a machine as in FIG. 1, partially in section, with the gripper unit and the gatherer in their loop engaging position and with the ribbon spool removed;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a machine as in FIG. 5, partially in section, with portions of the gripper unit and spool support omitted;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged end elevation view of a machine as in FIG. 6, partially in section;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevation view of the punch mechanism of the machine in FIG. 1, partially in section;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 10, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the gatherer of the machine in FIG. 1, with part of the top plate and the top latch ear removed, and illustrating two positions assumed by a retainer clip therein;

FIG. 13 is an end elevation view of the gatherer in FIG. 12 (without the clip);

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 14-14 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of a retainer clip adapted for use with the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged side elevation view of the gripper unit of the machine in FIG. 1 partially in section;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the gatherer unit of the machine in FIG. 1 when open;

FIG. 18 is an electrical wiring diagram for the machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of one decorative article such as may be formed with the machine of FIG. 1.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the illustrated embodiment of the present invention comprises a machine 16 including, generally, a spool support 18 for rotatably supporting a spool S of ribbon R, a punch mechanism 20 for forming spaced sets of opposed notches in ribbon R (see FIGS. 3 and 4) and a reciprocable ribbon gatherer 22 for drawing successive lengths of ribbon from the spool through the punch 20 and to a gripper unit 24. The gripper unit 24 is adapted to grasp the ribbon R astraddle each succeeding narrow portion N resulting from the notching operation of punch 20 and to rotate about each direction from the plane of feed of the ribbon to form the ribbon into loops and to support each such neck portion for engagement by the gatherer 22 on its forward stroke. The gatherer engages successive neck portions turned and held by the gripper and thereby accumulates ribbon loops into a decorative article.

Spool support and ribbon guide Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 57, the illustrated spool support 18 includes a hub 26 mounted on bracket 28 for rotatably supporting the ribbon spool S. A tension control arm 30 is pivotally mounted adjacent the hub and includes a leg 32 projecting across the edge of the spool. Arm 30 is biased in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 5) by tension spring 34 and functions to control the unreeling of the ribbon which is drawn off of the spool counterclockwise and over the leg 32 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

A ribbon guide and brake mechanism 36 is positioned at the inlet side of the punch 20 and includes a set of narrow Weight members 38 pivotally mounted to rest atop ribbon threaded over floor plate 40 and thereby to act as a drag or brake on the ribbon. The members 38 may serve as lateral guides for centering ribbon R which is narrower than plate 48 by being swung to the position of the members 38a.

Punch mechanism Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 7 and 9-11, the punch mechanism 28 comprises a pair of cylindrical punch members 42 reciprocably supported in punch block 44 and driven by a solenoid 46, in housing 46a, and a pair of compression springs 48. The cooperating die passages 50 communicate with a receptacle 52 which is clipped to the bottom of the block 44 to receive the punched-out portions of ribbon. The two punch elements are positioned close together, as best seen in- FIG. 11, and the guide mechanism centers the ribbon R beneath the punches whereby the punches cut out arcuate portions along opposite edges of the ribbon on each actuation ofsolenoid 4.6- to form a narrow neck portion as indicated at N. A guard plate or stripper 54 extends into the throat of the punch mechanism from the inlet side, in close proximity to the die side, and conforms rather closely to the punches (see FIG. 11). The ribbon passes beneath stripper 54, and the punches move well above the stripper when retracted to avoid catching and snagging of the cut edges of ribbon when the ribbon is drawn forward after the Punching operation.

Ribbon gripping and support elements The gripper unit 24 is perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 16 and includes opposed ribbon clamping jaws 58 and 60 pivotally mounted on pins 62 extending from the end of a reciprocably and rotatably supported splined shaft 64. Each jaw element 58 and 60 comprises a pair of spaced fingers 58a, 58b and 68a, 60b, respectively, opposed to the corresponding fingers of the opposite jaw. The base portions of jaws 58 and 68 are formed with mutually crossing slots 66 and 68 (FIG. 16) which are oppositely inclined with respect to the axis of shaft 64. An operating pin 78 extends through the slots 66 and 68 and is mounted for reciprocating movement parallel to the axis of shaft 64 and generally longitudinally of the slots to pivot the jaws between their open position (FIG. 2) and their closed or ribbon gripping position (FIG. 16). In operation, shaft 64 is reciprocated'to move the clamping elements 58 and 68 between their retracted position of FIG. 2 and their extended ribbon gripping position of FIG. 1. Pin 62 is reciprocated in timed relation with the reciprocation of shaft 64 so that the jaws 58 and 60 are closed when in their extended position, to grip the ribbon, and are opened while being reciprocated and while in their retracted position as will be more fully described below. Shaft 64 is rotatable about its longitudinal axis to rotate or to rotarily oscillate the gripping jaws in opposite directions during successive engagements of the ribbon to form ribbon loops and to align each gripped neck portion N with the gatherer 22, note FIGS. 3 and 4., The position wherein jaws 58 and 60 are disposed to engage the ribbon, such as in FIGS. 1 and 2, will hereinafter be referred to as the neutral position.

A ribbon guide arm 72 is mounted on each jaw element 58 and 60 and extends generally parallel to the respective fingers 58b, 6012 on the side thereof disposed towards the gatherer 22 when element 24 is in its neutral position.

Feed and gatherer apparatus The ribbon and feed gatherer arrangement of the illustrated machine comprises the ribbon gatherer or retainer 22 mounted on a slide 74 for reciprocating movement toward and away from the ribbon gripping and support mechanism 24. Referring to FIG. 7 slide 74 is supported in a stationary channel '76, such as by a set of caged ballbearings 78. Channel 76 is secured in a channel support member 80 suitably affixed to the machine frame.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 6 and 12-14, th loop gatherer and retainer apparatus 22 includes a pair of spaced plates 82 and 84 secured to a support bracket 85 which is mounted on the slide 74 by a pair: of bolts 85a. Plates 82 and 84 are formed with aligned slots defining a slot 86 communicating with the end of the gatherer disposed toward the gripper elements andflaring outward at the distal end for receiving ribbon sup-- ported by the gripper elements. A latch member 88 is: pivotally mounted for movement between plates 82 and 84 and carries a pair of latch ears 90 and 92 (FIG. 14) disposed substantially coplanar with the respective plates 82 and 84. These ears extend across slot 86 when lever 88 is in the closed position, as illustrated, and each includes an outwardly inclined outer edge 93 forming one side of the inlet or guide throat 86a of slot 86. A suitable spring device, such as a torsion spring 94 on pivot pin 96 biases the latch lever to the closed position but permits opening of the latch to admit ribbon into the slot 86.

The illustrated gatherer 22 is designed to accommodate a clip 98 (FIGS. 12 and 15) for reception and retention of ribbon loops. Each clip 98 comprises a thin flat member which may be manufactured from suitable synthetic plastic or other sheet material and is provided with an aperture 100 of a size to receive a series of neck portions N and to permit relative movement and reorientation of such neck portions therein. A slot 102 communicates with aperture 100 and with one end of the clip, the sides of the slot converging toward the inner end to form a generally V-shaped guide slot with its apex or narrowest portion at the edge of aperture 100. The sides of aperture 180 also converge inwardly at the inner end of slot 102, as at 101, whereby ribbon engaged in aperture 100 will not accidentally escape via slot 102. This general type of ribbon retaining arrangement may be etfected by other means, for instance a wir clip having inwardly converging ends or even crossed ends, and will be referred to hereinafter as a one-way passage entrance device as it permits ready admission of ribbon but substantially or absolutely prevents egress of the ribbon through the entrance.

Spacers 104 and 196 are provided between plates 82 and 84 and cooperate with these plates to delimit a slot including three communicating portions 108, and 112. Portion 108 is of a width, between spacers 104 and 106, anddepth, between ears 90 and 92 and between plates 82 and 84, to freely but closely receive clip 98. Portion 110 together with plates 82 and 84 reciprocably supports a plunger 114. A stem 116 on the plunger 114 extends rearwardly through slot portions 114). and 112 and terminates in a tab 118. A compression spring 120 encompasses stem 116 in slot 110 and is confined between the plunger 114 and the shoulder 122 at the rear of slot 110 to urge the plunger forward into slot 108. Tab 118 engages plate 82 to limit this forward movement. The plunger 114 engages a clip 98 inserted in slot 108 and urges the clip forward against a retaining shoulder 124 on latch arm 88 as illustrated by the clip 98 in solid lines in FIG. 12.

Operation In the operation of the aforedescribed mechanism to form a decorative article B such as is shown in FIG. 19, ribbon is threaded over plate 40 beneath the appropriate weight members 38, and beneath the punch members 42. The punch mechanism 28 is actuated, such as through a manual switch as at 128 for providing power to solenoid 46, to form a first neck portion N. The ribbon is advanced to place the first neck portion between the jaws 58 and 60 as seen in FIG. 1, and the punch mechanism is again actuated to form a second neck portion. A clip 98 is placed. in slot portion 188, and the machine is started. The jaws first rotate 90 in one direction, e.g. counterclockwise, whereupon the gatherer element 22 moves forward to pass between the fingers of the gripping unit as in FIG. 5 and thereby to engage the first narrow neck portion N in the aperture 100. In this engaging step and in subsequent similar steps, the ribbon neck supported between jaws 58 and 60 is transverse to slot 86 and engages ears 90 and 9 2 to force latch member 88 to an open position, then passes through slot 102 into aperture 100 and forces clip 98 rearward against the force of spring 110 until aperture 100 is exposed beyond cars 92 and 94 and the ribbon clears ears 92 and 94 to permit latch member 88 to close, note the position of clip 98a illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 12. The gripping elements 58 and 60 then release the ribbon, and neck N is gripped between the edges 126 and the back side of aperture 100 under the clamping force exerted by spring 120. The gripper unit 24 is then retracted by movement of shaft 64, whereupon the gatherer 22 retracts to draw ribbon R from the spool and through the punch element 20 to bring the next narrow neck portion N in alignment with the jaws 58 and 60. Clamping of the ribbon between edges 126 and the back side of aperture 1% avoids splitting or tearing of the ribbon at the notches during this feed stroke. As the ribbon is advanced, the gripping elements 82 and 84 are rotated to their neutral position in alignment with the ribbon and are opened as seen in FIG. 2. The jaws 58 and 60 are then moved forward (note FIG. 17) and closed to engage the ribbon astra-ddle the next neck portion N Shaft 64 then rotates the gripper unit 90 in the opposite direction, e.g. clockwise, whereupon the gatherer 22 moves forward as in FIG. 3 to engage the second narrow neck portion N in the same manner as the first neck portion (note FIG. 4), thus forming a first loop of ribbon beneath the gatherer 22. Meanwhile punch 20 is actuated to cut another pair of notches to form another neck portion N During the next succeeding cycle, jaws 58 and 60 are rotated in the opposite direction as seen in FIG. 4 to form a loop above the gatherer 22. This operation continues, with the jaws 58 and 60 engaging successive neck portions and rotating alternate portions in opposite directions to form successive loops of ribbon alternately above and below the gatherer 22. After a suitable number of loops are accumulated the ribbon is out between the gripper unit and the gatherer, for instance manually with a pair of scissors, and the clip is released by opening lever arm 88. Thereafter clip 98 serves as a permanent retainer for the accumulated loops.

The gatherer 22 may also be utilized to accumulate bow loops without the use of a clip by altering the relative dimensions of the parts so that plunger 114 normally extends to or slightly beyond edges 126, e.g. by lengthening the plunger 114. Slot 86 then becomes the ribbon receiving and retaining aperture, with plunger 114 clamping the neck portions directly against edges 126 during the loop forming steps. When a retaining clip is not utilized, a length of narrow ribbon, string, wire or the like, may be secured around the neck portions of the accumulated loops prior to their release from the gatherer to retain the loops in how form. Such securing means may be conveniently placed in the gatherer 22 by being inserted through slot 86 prior to accumulating the loops, as illustrated by tie-strip T in FIG. 1, and later may be secured around the narrow neck portions of the accumulated loops prior to their release from retainer 22 to maintain the loops in how form. The ends of tie-strips T may also be utilized to secure the resulting decorative article to a package or the like.

It will be appreciated at this point that the use of the removable clips as part of the loop retainer mechanism of the machine presents a distinct production advantage by way of avoiding the necessity of tying the strip T around the accumulated neck portion of each bow.

When utilizing clips or similar securing devices, a tie-string T or the like may be placed in the aperture of each clip in gatherer 22 prior to accumulation of the loops to serve as means for attaching the final decorative article to a package or the like. Other means such as a package penetrating prong, another one-way-passage opening, or a pressure sensitive adhesive coated element may also be provided on the clips for securing the final 6 article to a package, to the package wrapping or to other articles or surfaces.

It has been found that the various loops tend to assume random positions when a number of such loops are accumulated in the gatherer, either with or without clip 98, whereby, upon accumulation of a sufiicient number of loops, a full balanced spherical pompon type bow may be formed. This desirable positioning of the loops is apparently occasioned by a combination of factors including reorientation of the retained neck portions which is permitted by the adequate space provided in slot 86 and in aperture 100, and the light or relatively loose engagement of the ribbon only in the narrow neck areas, as well as by movement of the loops due to twisting of the several engaged neck portions.

The number of loops required for each decorative article will vary in accordance with the width of the ribbon and the size and type of article desired. Assuming appropriate spacing of the neck portion N, the size, or radius, of the articles may be readily varied by changing the length of the stroke of gatherer 22 to alter the length of each loop. In the illustrated machine this is accomplished by changing the stroke of the slide 74. When the pun-ch 20 is utilized to form the neck portions N, the distance between the punch mechanism 20 and the gripper element 24 is adjusted in accordance with the length of stroke of gatherer 22 so that each feed stroke of the gatherer will draw the newly formed neck portion from the punch into alignment with the gripper mechanism 24. In machine 16 these dimensions are equated, and the noted adjustment is obtained by slidably mounting the punch mechanism on the member 80. Suitable guiding indicia may be placed on channel 80, and the punch 20 is locked in the appropriate selected position by suitable means such as a thumbscrew 130.

The drive mechanism utilized to obtain the aforedescribed motions in the illustrated machine is described in greater detail below with particular reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

Gatherer-drive The drive for reciprocating gatherer 22 includes a drive arm 132 pivotally mounted on the frame, as on shaft 134, and drive connected to an arm 136 which is slotted as at 138 to receive a roller 140 eccentrically mounted on a shaft 142. Rotation of the shaft 142 and the roller 140 drives the arm 136 and hence arm 132 in an oscillatory path arcuate about the axis of shaft 134. A link 144 is connected to arm 132 and to the movable slide element 74 of the slide assembly. An adjustable connection is provided between link 144 and arm 132 to permit selective variance of the slide or feed stroke of the gatherer mechanism for forming different size ribbon loops. This adjustability is obtained by providing a series of openings 146 in arm 132 so disposed that when arm 132 is in its extreme counterclockwise end position as in FIG. 5, and the slide 74 is in its left-end position to place gatherer 22 in registry with grippers 24, the openings 146 are arranged along an arc of a circle centered at the point of connection of link 144 to slide 74 and of a radius equal to the length of link 144. The length of the stroke of gatherer 22 then varies in accordance with the distance ofthe selected opening 146 from the axis of shaft 134, while proper registry of gatherer 22 with gripper unit 24 is assured at the engagement end of the gatherer feed stroke. A suitable quickly and manually operable connecting member such as a thumbscrew, spring-loaded pin or the like may be provided at 147 to facilitate changing the connection of link 144 with arm 132.

The drive shaft 134 is suitably driven as by an electric motor at 150.

Gripper drive A roller chain 152 engages a sprocket 154 on drive shaft 142 and a second sprocket 156 on rotatable shaft 158. An edge cam is fixed on shaft 158 and provides the rotary oscillation movement of the gripper unit 24. Cam 160 engages a roller 162 on a drive arm 164 fixed on a shaft 166 pivotally mounted in bracket 168. A tension spring 170 biases arm 164 clockwise (FIG. and urges roller 162 against the cam 160. A sector gear 172 is also fixed to shaft 166 and drives a spur gear 174 (FIG. 7) which is an integral part of a bushing 176 rotatably mounted in the frame at 178. Bushing 176 is formed with a mating passage for splined shaft 64 and thereby reciprocably supports and rotarily drives the gripping unit 24.

Cam 160 is formed with two neutral or dwell segments 1611a and 1611b, a raised portion 1611c and an opposed reduced or cutaway portion 166d. Engagement of roller 162 with either of the dwell portions 160a and 1611b positions the grippers 24 in their neutral position to engage the ribbon. Movement of the roller 162 onto the raised portion 164% causes counterclockwise rotation of the sector gear 172 (FIG. 5), and thus causes clockwise rotation of the gripping unit 24 through an arc of about 90 from its neutral position. Conversely, movement of the follower roller 162 onto the cutaway portion 160d causes counterclockwise rotation of the gripping unit through an arc of about 90 from its neutral position. The drive ratio between the sprockets 154 and 156 is 1:2 so that during two successive cycles of the gathering element 22, the gripper unit 24 will be rotated first in one direction and then in the opposite direction to form successive lengths of ribbon into loops on opposite sides of the gatherer.

Referring particularly to FIG. 7, reciprocation of the splined shaft 64 and hence of the grippers 24 is obtained through a bell crank arm 180 pivotally mounted on the machine frame as at 182 and carrying cam follower rollers 184 and 186. A yoke 188 on the upper end of the arm 180 is provided with pins 190 (FIG. 6) which engage an annular slot 192 on the end of the shaft 64. A pair of appropriately shaped cams on shaft 194 engage rollers 1 84 and 186 to drive the splined shaft to the extended and retracted positions of the gripper unit.

The illustrated drive arrangement for opening and closing the jaws 58 and 61) includes an operating plunger 196 (FIGS. 7 and 16) which carries pin 70 and is reciprocably supported in the shaft 64. The plunger 196 is biased towards an extended position by a compression spring 198 engaged between an internal shoulder 200 in the splined shaft and a shoulder 202 on the plunger 196, and thereby biases the gripping jaws 58 and 60 to their closed or ribbon gripping position as in FIG. 1. Retraction of the plunger 196 is obtained through a pair of spaced bell crank levers 204 pivotally mounted on an extension 296 of crank arm 180. One end of each lever 204 engages a stop element 208 secured to the rear or distal end of the plunger element 196. An operating link 210 is connected to the opposite end of the crank levers 204 and to the free end of an operating lever 212 at 214. The lever 212 is pivotally mounted on the frame as at 216 and supports a cam follower roller 218. An appropriately shaped cam 220 engages roller 218 and is provided with raised portions for urging link 212 downward or clockwise about its pivot point as viewed in FIG. 7 to open the gripping jaws 58 and 60 against the force of spring 198. When jaws 58 and 60 are open as in FIG. l7, the pivotal connection 214 between arm 212 and link 210 is substantially coaxial with the pivot point of the arm 180 whereby the gripping jaws will remain fully opened during the subsequent advancing movement of the splined shaft 64.

An operating arm 222 is pivotally mounted on the frame as at 224 with a pin 226 engaging operating arm 212 whereby the machine operator may selectively open the jaws 58 and 60 by raising the exposed end 222a, such as during threading of the machine.

Shaft 194 and the cams for reciprocating shaft 64 and plunger 196 are driven from shaft 158 through a bevelled gear arrangement (see FIG. 6). These gears provide a 2:1 drive ratio whereby the opening closing and reciprocating cycle of the gripping jaws is completed once during each cycle of the feed and gatherer mechanism 22, and thus twice during each full cycle of oscillation of the gripper unit 24.

Machine 16 is Well adapted for semiautomatic operation. Referring now to FIGS. 5, 7 and 18, the illustrated control system includes a cam 228 mounted on shaft 158 to operate a switch 230 and thereby actuate an appropriate counting mechanism, such as by actuating a stepping-relay 231 which in turn controls the actuation of a normally closed switch 232 connected in the power circuit of motor 150. A master on-oif switch is provided at 234, and start and stop switches 236 and 238, respectively, are connected in circuit with the counter for initiating and stopping the counter controlled cycle of the machine. Closing of switch 236 results in closing of switch 232 to initiate operation of the machine which then continues for a predetermined number of cycles, according to the setting of a selector switch 240, whereupon a circuit is completed through a reset relay 231a to return the counter to its zero position and open the switch 232 to stop the motor. The machine may also be stopped, at any time, by closing switch 238 to actuate relay 231a.

Selector switch 240 permits the operator to vary the number of the cycles of the machine and hence the number of loops which will be formed during each cycle of actuation of the counter.

A cam 242 on shaft 194 (FIG. 6) engages a switch 244 in the power circuit to solenoid 46 to operate the punch elements between the ribbon feed strokes of the gatherer 22. A separate manual switch 128 is also provided for actuating the punch when initially threading the machine.

In the operation of the illustrated machine, beginning from the threaded position of FIG. 1 and assuming dwell 1601) of cam 160 is adjacent roller 162, switch 234 is closed, switch 240 is adjusted to the position corresponding to the number of loops desired in a bow, switch 128 is closed to form the second neck portion N and the start switch 236 is closed to initiate automatic operation. Shaft 158 and cam 160 are rotated clockwise, and follower roller 162 moves into dwell 166d whereby sector gear 172 rotates the gripper unit counterclockwise while gatherer 22 is driven forward to the ribbon engaging position of FIG. 5 by movement of arm 136. Cam 220 then moves arm 212 down to open the jaws 58 and 60 sufficiently to release the ribbon whereupon bell crank 180 is driven to retract the gripper unit 24. Arm 136 is driven by roller to move gatherer 22 to the right and thereby feed a length of ribbon to the operative mechanism. During this feeding or ribbon drawing step dwell a moves opposite roller 162, sector gear 172 rotates the gripper jaws to their neutral position, and cam 220 drives arm 212 downward to pivot the jaws to their full open position of FIG. 2. The fully opened jaws are then moved forward to a position astraddle the ribbon by appropriate movement of bell crank as the feed stroke of the gatherer is completed to place the next neck portion N in alignment with the gripper unit, see FIG. 17. Cam 242 closes switch 244 to actuate solenoid 46 and form the next neck portion N and the gripper jaws are permitted to close under the force of spring 198. The aforedescribed cycle is then repeated except that during the next cycle the raised portion of cam 160 moves opposite roller 162 whereby the gripper unit is rotated in the opposite direction. Cam 228 closes switch 2311 once during each rotation of shaft 158 to advance the stepping relay 231 one step. This operation continues until the stepping relay completes a circuit through the selector switch 240 to actuate relay 231a and open switch 232 to stop motor 150.

It will be appreciated of course that other systems may be devised by those skilled in this art for driving and semiautomatically or automatically controlling the bow-forming elements of a machine embodying the teachings of this invention. Alternatively the machine may be manually driven by the operator. The aforedescribed mechanism has been set forth and described only by way of one illustrative embodiment of the invention.

The novel method of forming bows disclosed herein is apparent from the above description of the machine operation. In outline, it comprises forming ribbon with spaced narrow neck portions into a collection of loops by reversing each neck portion relative to the preceding neck portion and bringing the neck portions together to form a closed loop, the successive neck portions being engaged in a retainer which encompasses the neck portions and permits self-orientation of the encompassed portions. It will be appreciated that this method can be carried out with other mechanism than that specifically illustrated herein, for instance an embodiment utilizing a rotating and reciprocating gripper unit to feed and orient the ribbon and to engage the neck portions with a stationary retainer device, or by manipulating the ribbon by hand, while retaining the advantage of quickly and efficiently forming. a completed and pleasing decorative article.

It will thus be seen that a machine and method have been provided which meet the objects of this invention. Machines employing the teachings of this invention are capable of mechanically forming pleasing decorative articles, including completed pompon-type bows, and eliminate most of the manual operations previously deemed necessary for the forming of such articles. This result has been obtained with an improved machine which is relatively simple in construction, in terms of the operation performed, and which is simple and easy to operate. Also, a novel and improved method for forming pompon bows has been disclosed whereby such bows may be conveniently and efficiently formed as a pleasing, completed, full bow, ready for use without further forming steps. Further, the use of clips in practicing this invention results in the production of a complete pre-tied bow from the simple loop-forming steps, without any separate tying step, and thereby greatly increases the efiiciency and economy of production of the subject bows.

The term ribbon has been used above to designate the product from which the subject decorative articles are to be formed. It will be understood that this term is not to be construed to limit the invention as the machine may be used with various ribbon or ribbon-like products, including the non-woven, parallel, adhered strand ribbon products currently produced and sold by various companies as decorative tying tapes. The use of a ribbon having the same appearance on both sides, i.e. color, texture and finish, provides a decorative article of uniform appearance. Ribbon of different appearances on the two sides will result in articles of different appearance in the two generally hemispherical areas corresponding to the loops formed on each of the two sides of the retainer.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in this art that the illustrated machine embodies a combination of operative mechanisms which cooperate to obtain certain objects of the invention, and that other specific structural and/ or functional elements may be substituted for individual elements of the combination without departing from the spirit and scope of the contribution made by the present invention. Similarly the manipulative steps of the illustrative method may be varied. Accordingly, while particular embodiments of this invention are shown and/or described above, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since those skilled in the art may devise many modifications. It is contemplated therefore by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. A machine adapted for use in forming bows from ribbon or the like provided with spaced neck portions comprising a retainer having means to encompass and retain each such neck portion for retaining loops formed of the ribbon between successive neck portions without restraint of such loops thereby except at such neck portions, whereby movement of such loops relative to the retainer and to one another is permitted for self-orientation of the loops as such loops are accumulated on the retainer, means for supporting each successive neck portion of such ribbon for engagement in said retainer, and means for moving said retainer and said support means relative to one another to form loops of the lengths of such ribbon between successive neck portions and to engage each successive neck portion of such ribbon in said retainer.

2. A machine adapted for use in forming bows from ribbon or the like provided with spaced neck portions comprising a retainer including segments defining an opening therethrough for receiving, encompassing and retaining such neck portions to retain loops formed of the ribbon between successive neck portions without restraint of such loops thereby except at such neck portions, whereby move ment of such loops relative to the retainer is permitted for self-orientation of the loops as such loops are accumulated on the retainer, means for supporting each successive neck portion of such ribbon for engagement in said retainer, and means for moving said retainer and said support means relative to one another to form loops of the lengths of such ribbon between successive neck portions alternately on opposite sides of said retainer and to engage each successive neck portion of such ribbon in said retainer.

3. A machine as in claim 2 wherein said retainer includes a member formed with an open-ended slot and a movable latch normally disposed across the open end of said slot.

4. A machine as in claim 2 wherein said retainer includes a removable clip formed with an opening therethrough for encompassing such neck portions.

5. A machine adapted for use in forming bows from ribbon or the like provided with spaced neck portions comprising a retainer having means to encompass and retain each such neck portion for retaining loops formed of the ribbon between successive neck portions without restraint of such loops thereby except at such neck portions, whereby movement of such loops relative to the retainer and to one another is permitted for self-orientation of the loops as such loops are accumulated on the retainer, a gripper adapted to engage such ribbon adjacent each successive neck portion to support said neck portions for engagement with said retainer, said retainer being mounted for reciprocation into encompassing engagement with such neck portions supported by said gripper.

6. A machine as in claim 5 wherein said gripper is oscillatable to rotate alternate neck portions in opposite directions to form successive loops on opposite sides of said retainer.

7. A machine adapted for use in forming bows from ribbon or the like provided with spaced neck portions comprising retainer means for loosely encompassing and re taining succeeding neck portions of such ribbon, means including a gripper member for disposing successive neck portions of such ribbon in position to be engaged in said retainer means, said gripper member including spaced fingers for supporting such ribbon on each side of each such successive neck portion, and means for engaging such succeeding neck portions in said retainer means to form loops of a bow.

8. A machine adapted for use in forming bows from ribbon or the like provided with spaced neck portions comprising a ribbon supply support, means including a rotatable and reciprocable gripper unit for supporting successive neck portions of such ribbon, retainer means including a member having an aperture therethrough for receiving such neck portions and a one-way-passage access slot communicating therewith, said gripper unit being adapted to engage such ribbon adjacent such neck portions and rotate each such neck portion into a position transverse to said slot, and said retainer means being reciprocable for engaging successive neck portions of such ribbon supported on said gripper unit in said aperture through said slot to form loops of a bow and for feeding successive portions of such ribbon from said supply support to said gripper unit.

9. A machine as in claim 8 wherein said gripper unit includes a splined shaft, opposed gripper fingers pivotally supported on one end of said shaft, a rod slidably supported in said shaft and operably connected to said fingers to open and close said fingers upon reciprocation of said rod, means for rotatably supporting said splined shaft, and means for reciprocating said rod relative to said shaft to open and close said fingers.

10. A machine adapted for use in forming bows from ribbon or the like comprising a ribbon supply support, a reciprocable retainer having means to engage and retain said ribbon at spaced points to form and retain loops of said ribbon and to draw such ribbon from said supply support along a ribbon path through said machine, means disposed along said path for cutting said ribbon to form spaced narrowed neck portions therein, and means for supporting each successive neck portion of such ribbon for engagement by said retainer whereby said retainer engages and retains such ribbon at said neck portions, the distance between said cutting means and said support means being an even multiple of the length of the reciprocating stroke of said retainer means.

11. A machine as in claim 10 wherein said cutting means comprises a pair of punches for notching opposite sides of such ribbon.

12. A machine as in claim 11 wherein said punches are provided with a ribbon passage throat of substantial clearance, and a guide plate at the supply support end of said throat for maintaining such ribbon closely adjacent the die side of said throat.

13. A machine as in claim 11 including a ribbon guide adjacent said punches comprising a member having a ribbon feed surface, and a plurality of narrow weight members pivotally mounted above said surface for engagement atop ribbon passing over said surface and selectively positionable transverse to said surface to guide ribbon laterally thereof.

14. A machine as in claim 11 wherein each of said punches is of an arcuate cross-section for forming arcuate notches along opposite edges of said ribbon.

15. Apparatus adapted for forming decorative bows from ribbon provided with spaced neck portions comprising a retainer clip characterized by an aperture and a one-way-passage access slot communicating with said aperture, holding means for releasably holding said clip, means for supporting successive neck portions of such ribbon in alignment with said slot in such clip on said holding means, and means for moving said clip and support means relative to one another to pass such neck portions through said access slot and into said aperture to collect and retain such neck portions in said aperture and form loops of the ribbon between such neck portions.

16. Apparatus adapted for forming decorative bows from ribbon provided with spaced neck portions comprising a retainer clip characterized by an aperture and a one-way-passage access slot communicating with said aperture, holding means for releasably holding said clip, ribbon gripping means adapted to grasp such ribbon adjacent succeeding neck portions and movable to position each such neck portion transversely of said clip on said holding means and in alignment with said slot therein, and means for moving said clip relative to said gripping means to pass such neck portions through said access slot and into said aperture to collect and retain such neck portions in said clip aperture and form loops of the ribbon between such neck portions.

17. A machine adapted for use in forming bows from ribbon or the like comprising support means reciprocable laterally of the normal path of travel of ribbon through such machine and including elements for engaging such ribbon along such path upon reciprocation of said support means, and means for receiving and retaining ribbon portions disposed transversely of such path, said elements being rotatable about an axis extending laterally of such path to position ribbon portions engaged thereby for engagement with said retaining means, one of said means being reciprocable toward and away from the other of said means for engaging ribbon portions supported by said elements with said retaining means.

18. A machine as in claim 17 wherein said elements comprise opposed gripper fingers for clamping such ribbon therebetween.

19. A machine as in claim 17 wherein said retaining means is reciprocable.

2i). A machine as in claim 17 wherein said support means is oscillatable about said axis to rotate alternate portions of ribbon engaged thereby in opposite directions from said path for engagement with said retaining means.

21. The method of forming a pompon type bow from ribbon or the like having spaced narrow neck portions comprising the steps of engaging a first of said neck portions in a neck portion encompassing device in a manner to permit movement of such neck portion relative to the engaging means, forming a loop on one side of said device from the length of ribbon between the engaged neck portion and a second neck portion and engaging said second neck portion in said encompassing device to retain said loop, forming another loop on the opposite side of said device from the length of ribbon between said second neck portion and a third neck portion and engaging said third neck portion in said encompassing device, and repeating said steps to alternately form loops of ribbon on opposite sides of said device from successive lengths of ribbon and to engage the intervening neck portions in said encompassing device to accumulate such loops.

22. The method of forming a pompon type bow from ribbon or the like comprising notching said ribbon at spaced intervals to form spaced narrow neck portions, engaging a first of said neck portions in a neck portion encompassing device in a manner to permit movement of such neck portion relative to the engaging means, forming a loop on one side of said device from the length of ribbon between the engaged neck portion and a second neck portion and engaging said second neck portion in said encompassing device to retain said loop, forming another loop on the opposite side of said device from the length of ribbon between said second neck portion and a third neck portion and engaging said third neck portion in said encompassing device, and repeating said steps to alternately form loops of ribbon on opposite sides of said device from successive lengths of ribbon and to engage the intervening neck portions in said encompassing device to accumulate such loops.

23. The method of forming a pompon type bow from ribbon or the like comprising notching said ribbon at spaced intervals to form spaced narrow neck portions, engaging and retaining a first of said neck portions, forming a loop from the length of ribbon between the engaged neck portion and a second neck portion, engaging and retaining said second neck portion adjacent said first neck portion to retain said loop, forming a second loop from the length of ribbon between said second neck portion and a third neck portion, engaging and retaining said third neck portion adjacent said second neck portion to retain said second loop and permit movement of said second loop relative to said first loop by twisting of said neck portions, and repeating said steps to form loops from the lengths of ribbon between successive neck portions and to retain the neck portions and permit movement of said loops relative to one another by twisting of said neck portions.

24. A machine adapted for use in forming bows from ribbon or the like provided with spaced neck portions comprising a retainer including a removable clip having an aperture therethrough and a one-way passage access slot communicating with said aperture for receiving, encompassing and retaining such neck portions to retain 13 loops formed of the ribbon between successive neck portions without restraint of such loops thereby except at such neck portions, whereby movement of such loops relative to the retainer is permitted for self-orientation of the loops as such loops are accumulated on the retainer, means for supporting each successive neck portion of such ribbon for engagement with said retainer, and means for moving said retainer and said support means relative to one another to form loops of the lengths of such ribbon between successive neck portions alternately on opposite sides of said retainer and to engage each successive neck portion of such ribbon in said retainer.

25. The method of producing a bow from ribbon or the like comprising engaging a first portion of said ribbon in a clip for permanently retaining loops of said ribbon and having an aperture therethrough and a generally V- shaped access slot defined by sides converging from one peripheral edge of said clip into said aperture, wherein the sides of said aperture also converge inwardly of said aperture adjacent the inner end of said slot to form a one-waypassage access slot to said aperture, supporting a second portion of said ribbon spaced from said first portion and positioning said second portion adjacent said clip to form a loop of the ribbon between said first portion and said second portion, passing said second portion through said access slot into said aperture, whereby said portions are retained in said aperture to retain said loop, and supporting and positioning successive spaced portions of said ribbon adjacent said clip to form loops of the ribbon between said spaced portions and successively passing each of said spaced portions through said slot and into said aperture, and retaining said portions in said aperture of said clip to retain said loops in a bow.

26 A method of forming a bow as in claim 25 including the step of notching such ribbon at said portions to form narrow neck portions thereat prior to engaging said portions in said aperture.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,872,086 2/1959 Duncan 22346 2,884,169 4/1959 Sperry 223-46 2,933,223 4/1960 Kvavig et a1 '22346 2,982,452 5/ 1961 Anderson 223-46 3,129,861 4/1964 Napier 22346 JORDAN FMNKLIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE ADAPTED FOR USE IN FORMING BOWS FROM RIBBON OR THE LIKE PROVIDED WITH SPACED NECK PORTIONS COMPRISING A RETAINER HAVING MEANS TO ENCOMPASS AND RETAIN EACH SUCH NECK PORTION FOR RETAINING LOOPS FORMED OF THE RIBBON BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE NECK PORTIONS WITHOUT RESTRAINT OF SUCH LOOPS THEREBY EXCEPT AT SUCH NECK PORTIONS, WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SUCH LOOPS RELATIVE TO THE RETAINER AND TO ONE ANOTHER IS PERMITTED FOR SELF-ORIENTATION OF THE LOOPS AS SUCH LOOPS ARE ACCUMULATED ON THE RETAINER, MEANS FOR 